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Ron Block

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Ron Block
Ron Block playing his banjo
Ron Block playing his banjo
Background information
Birth nameRonald Franklin Block
BornGardena, California, U.S.
OriginLevelland, Texas, U.S.
GenresBluegrass, country
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, musician, producer
Instrument(s)Banjo, guitar, vocals
Years active1984–present
LabelsRounder
Websiteronblock.com

Ronald Franklin Block is an American banjo player, guitarist, and singer-songwriter, best known as a member of the bluegrass band Alison Krauss & Union Station. He has won 14 Grammy Awards, 6 International Bluegrass Music Awards, a Country Music Association Award, and a Gospel Music Association Dove Award.[1]

Biography

Ron Block heard a variety of music at an early age because his father owned a music store, Hogan's House of Music, in southern California. At home he was drawn to the bluegrass music of Bill Monroe, J. D. Crowe, and The Stanley Brothers. At the age of 13, after he saw Lester Flatt on TV, learned to play the banjo. In his teens he also learned acoustic and electric guitar. Later in his career, he recorded a solo album of instrumentals, titled Hogan's House of Music (2015), dedicated to the music store where he spent much of his youth.[2]

In the 1980s, he co-founded the band Weary Hearts, which included Eric Uglum, Butch Baldassari, and Mike Bub, then played with the Lynne Morris Band before joining Union Station in 1991. During his career, he has also recorded solo albums, produced, and performed on albums by Dolly Parton, Clint Black, Brad Paisley, and Bill Frisell.[3]

Block has written songs for Union Station and for his own solo albums. His songs have been recorded by Randy Travis, Rhonda Vincent, Michael W. Smith, and The Cox Family.[3] Block names as two of his favorites "A Living Prayer" and "There is a Reason," both recorded with Alison Krauss & Union Station, both dealing with his Christian faith.[4]

Awards

Grammy

International Bluegrass

  • (1991) Entertainer of the Year - Alison Krauss & Union Station
  • (1993) Album of the Year, Alison Krauss & Union Station - Every Time You Say Goodbye
  • (1995) Entertainer of the Year - Alison Krauss & Union Station
  • (2001) Album of the Year: Various Artists - O Brother, Where Art Thou?
  • (2002) Album of the Year: Various Artists - Down from the Mountain
  • (2003) Album of the Year: Alison Krauss & Union Station - Live

Country Music Association

Gospel Music Association

  • (1998) Best Bluegrass Song - "A Living Prayer"[1]

Discography

Title Album details Peak positions
US Bluegrass
Faraway Land N/A
DoorWay
  • Release date: June 19, 2007
  • Label: Rounder Records
 7
Walking Song
  • Release date: July 30, 2013
  • Label: Rounder Records
 7
Hogan's House of Music
  • Release date: September 25, 2015
  • Label: Hogan's House of Music
 2
Carter's Creek Christmas
  • Release date: November 27, 2015
  • Label: Hogan's House of Music
 N/A
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

References

  1. ^ a b "Ron Block Bio". Ron Block. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  2. ^ Lawless, John. "Hogan's House Of Music – Ron Block". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  3. ^ a b Seida, Linda. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  4. ^ Thompson, Richard. "Having a Coffee with...Ron Block". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
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